Phonographic record resurfacing machine



Feb. 19, 1935.

L. 2. LA FOREST PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD RESURFACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR )6 01/415 Zfaio ram fit 44.1L

A TTORNEY Feb. 19, 1935. 2. LA FOREST PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD RESURFACING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1933 aruhllllmlq A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1935 NT OFFICE rnoNoGRArmo RECORD RESURFACING MACHINE Louis 2. LaForest, East orange,

, Thomas A. Edison,

N.'J., a corporation N. 1., assignor to Incorporated, West Orange,

of Ne'w'Jersey Application November 2, 1933, Serial No; 696,315

'lsoiainis; (01. 82 1.1)

This invention relates to phonogra'phic record resurfacing machines, and more particularly to those of the type whereby a record is rotated and its surface meanv' hile subjected to the action of a suitable resurfacing tool.

The term record is used herein as denoting a wax or other tablet having a surface either adapted to receive and bear or already bearing an impression of sound. For purposes of this specifi cation a record having a surface already bearing such an impression may be termed a used record; and the principal function of the machine contemplated by the instant invention is the restoration of the surface of such a used record to a virgin condition-i. e., one wherein it is adapte to receive and bear a fresh impression.-

The invention is illustrated and described with particular reference to records of cylindrical form. Machines commonly in use for resurfacing such records may be skeletonized as comprising a mandrel adapted to bear the record, a resurfacing tool adapted to engage the record surface, and means for rotating the mandrel and for meanwhile moving the resurfacing tool longitudinally of the record. For proper resurfacing it is con sidered necessary throughout that operation to provide supports for the mandrel at points on respectively opposie ends of the portion bearing the-record. Obviously one of these supports must be disengageable from the mandrel at times to permit removal from the mandrel of a resurfaced record and the placement thereon of another used record for resurfacing.- While this support remains disengaged the mandrel is held only ap-- proximately in normal position and is not securely maintained in any definite axial alignment. Accidental or other operation of the mandrel rotating means under theseconditions may cause considerable injury to a record then borne by the mandrel, or even to the mandrel itself. Likewise such injuries may'occur if during the proper operation of the mandrel rotating means the mentioned support be disengaged from the mandrel. i

It is an object of this invention to provide, in a record resurfacing machine, means for preventing rotation of the mandrel while oneof its supports remains disengaged therefrom.

It is another object to prevent disengagement of the mandrel and one of its supports during mandrel rotation.

It is a still further object to provide a simple structure adapted to prevent both forms of misoperation of the machine above mentioned.

Other and allied objects will more fully appear from the claims companying drawings, of which:

I Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional form '5 of record resurfacing machine to which my invention has been applied: Fig. 2 is a right-hand end View of the machine of Fig. 1-, a portion of the cabinet therein being shown insection; I l I Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 2, part of Fig. 3 being in section for clearer illustration of an internal portioni Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, certain portions hereinafter mentioned being omitted from Fig. 4;

r Fig. .5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of an" other portion of Fig.- 2, part of this figure also being in section; and I Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of certain electrical portions and their connections.

Reference being directed to Figs. 1 and 2, there will be seen a base 1 mounted to the cabinet 61 of the instrument; On the base may be provided' left-hand standards 2 and 3, right-hand standards 4 and 5, and central standard-44. A conically-pointed stud- 30 is provided in the standaid 3 and engages a recess in the left-end of mandrel shaft 9, providing a localizing and thrust bearing for such shaft end. The shaft 9 passes through an oversize hole 43 in standard 44; and collar 10 secured to the shaft 9 at the left of standard 44 prevents the shaft from coming at any time completely out of engagement with the stud 30. Mandrel-shaft -9 forms a portion of the mandrel 11, onto which from its right end may be slid a record 12 into frictional engagement with the mandrel, a slight taper of both mandrel 11 and the interior of record 12 to that end being contemplated. The thus far described condition of the mandrel in respect of support'is the conditionunder which its rotation is undesirable; it will be appreciated that thereunder the mandrel is retained in an approximate position only, the

oversizehole 43 of course failing toprovide the 45 definite axial alignment which is imperative dur-" ing thexresurfacing operation. The alignment contemplated in the drawings. is one parallel to the front edge of base 1; while it is maintained during the resurfacing operation by means most conveniently described hereinafter, it will be assumed in the intervening description of other portions of the machine; The mandrel 11 l is adapted to be rotated during the resurfacingoperation byrotating means including a motor M mounted within the cabinet 61 and shown in the later mentioned Fig. 4, operative connection of motor M to mandrel shaft 9 being established as by belt 21 and shaft-borne pulley 22.

The method of resurfacing for which the particularly illustrated machine is adapted is that of cutting or shaving a thin layer from the surface of the record by means of a tool illustrated as knife 26. It is to be understood, however, that this method of resurfacing is shown and described only in an illustrative, and in no way in a limitative, sense, as it will be obvious that my invention has no peculiar relation to any particular form or function of resurfacing tool. The knife 26 is illustrated as secured to the end of a tool bar 25, which is adjustably mounted in a projection '7' formed from the arm 7 of the tool carriage '7. This carriage is slidably and rotatably mounted on the carriage rod 6, which is shown disposed behind, and parallel to the operative axial alignment of, mandrel 11 and terminally secured to the standards 3 and 5. The arm 7 is approximatelysemi-circular in side elevation, and isprovided with a smooth surface 8 at its forward extremity. Weight 8, formed on the arm 7" and providing a convenient handpiece, normally maintains the surface 8' in contact with the top surface of front guide rail 35, which may be formed integrally with base 1. The knife 26 may be so adjusted that when the arm '7" is in this position the knife will engage the surface of record 12 to the desired depth (means for this adjustment not being required to be described herein); arm '7" may be lifted, however, to rotate the entire assembly of carriage '7 and parts thereto connected in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2, disengaging the knife 26 from the record surface.

The knife is contemplated as traversing the record surface longitudinally of the record during rotation thereof. To this end there is provided a feed screw 13 parallel to carriage rod 6 and journalled to standards 2 and 4. The feed screw is rotated during mandrel rotation by belt 18 travelling over screw-borne pulley 19 and shaft-borne pulley 20. Arranged to engage the feed screw when arm '7" occupies its normal rotative position as above mentioned, and to disengage the same when arm '7" is lifted, is provided feed nut 14; this is secured to the carriage 7 through the medium of extension 15 carried by the portion 16 of the carriage. It will therefore be understood that whenv the knife 26 is in cutting position and the mandrel 11 is rotated, the carriage 7 and hence the knife will move steadily in a direction longitudinal of the record, thus taking a uniformcut from all portions of the record surface. For the confinement of the shavings or chips from the record surface there are conveniently provided chip deflector 27 carried by tool bar 25, and chip chute 28 emptying the chips into a suitable receptacle (not shown) within the cabinet 61.

The elements heretofore described may be seen in the sectional Fig. 4, as well as in Figs. 1 and 2, excepting for the carriage '7 and all parts thereto secured, these having been omitted from Fig. 4 for the desirable simplification of the figure.

To cooperate with the already described left end mandrel support or bearing--i. e., stud 30-in maintaining proper axial alignment of the mandrel during rotation, a supporting means is provided in association with and removably engaging the right end of the mandrel. This includes the swinging gate 32 carrying the adjustable stud 31, conically pointed and adapted to engage a recess in the right end of the mandrel. The gate is pivoted to a boss 1' formedon the base 1; and is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, by clockwise rotation about its pivot until its forward extremity impinges against the right-hand extremity of front guide rail 35. With the gate adjusted to the closed position mandrel 11 is wholly borne by the studs 30 and 31, the latter being positioned then to permit free rotation of the mandrel but to prevent appreciable end play thereof. The

right end supporting means also includes the latch 33, hereinafter more fully described, which when adjusted to the, position illustrated in Fig. 1 maintains the gate in its closed position against the tendency of the mandrel to disengage the stud 31 and thus to open the gate, as well as againstthe force of a torsion spring 40'normally tending to maintain an open adjustment of the gate. This torsion spring is best seen in the fractional Figure 3. Herein appears the boss 1' above mentioned, a stationary post 32 extending up wardly therefrom, and the gate 32 swinging about thepost 32' and bearingon the boss 1. Secured to the top of the post 32 as by screw 42 is provided an inverted cup member 41; and within this member is retained the spring 40,

with its extremities respectively secured to the cup member 41and the gate 32. p The torsional force of the spring 40 may be regulated by rotation of the cup member 41 with respect to the gate 32 and the desired regulation maintained by tightening of the screw 42.

The latch 33 is secured to a vertical pin 34 swivelling in front guide rail 35, and its shank 3'7 swings in a horizontal slot 36 in that rail. Its most rearward, or most counter-clockwise, contemplated adjustment is that illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein its shank 37 protrudes rightwardly through a slot 33' formed in the forward extremity of the gate 32. It retains this adjustment, until deliberately moved, by virtue of a spring catch member 38, this member surrounding the shank 3'7 and being urged toward the pin 34 by an internally included spring (not shown). The process of disengaging the right end support from the mandrel consists in pulling for-' ward on the knob 39 provided at the extremity of latch 33, whereupon the catch member 38 moves slightly toward the knob 39 and permits the latch to swing about its pivot to a more clockwise adjustment, disengaging the gate 22; the latter is thereupon swung in a counterclockwise direction to an open adjustment. The reverse process of engaging the right end support with the mandrel of course consists in first adjusting the gate to a closed position and then adjusting the latch to the illustrated gate-engaging position.

The general arrangements hereinabove described are known to the art, as is also the electrical portion of the mandrel rotating means described in the balance of this paragraph. This portion comprises a switch 4"! for opening and closing at will. an electrical circuit shown in Fig. 6 and serially including the motor M and any suitable source of electrical power therefor, such for example as the schematically illustrated battery 50. The switch 4'7 is provided with an outwardly extending On button 48 and a like Off button 49, respectively depressible to close and open the switch; and is of the well known type wherein an internal spring and lever system forces one button outwardly when the other is depressed, and maintains the buttonlast depressed in its inmost position andthe other in its outmost position pendin depression of such other button. It will of course be understood that depression of the On button 48 adjusts'the mandrel rotating means to operative condition, and conversely that depression-of the Off button '49 adjusts such means to an inoperative condition.

According to my invention the right end mandrel supporting means and the mandrel rotating means are so interconnected as to restrict the possible adjustment of one in accordance with the adjustment of the other. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the interconnection is made between the latch portion of the sup porting means and the switch portion of the rotating means; and by the interconnectionthese portions are mutually interlocked as to respective adjustments thereof. For convenience'in carrying out this embodiment I mount the switch-4'7 to the cabinet 61 with'its buttons extending upwardly through the cabinet'in a position near therighthand extremity of the front guidelrail 35.

Reference is first'invited to the fractional Fig. 5, the right-hand portion of which amounts to a vertical section taken transversely through the guide rail 35 at the center of the swivelling pin 34. The shank 37 of the latch 33,operating in the slot 36, is secured to the enlarged upper portion34 of the pin 34, the shoulder 35"formed between the portion 34 and the balance of the pin resting on the bottom of slot 36. To the pin 34 at its lower extremity is secured an arm 45 extending in a generally forward direction and swinging, upon the swinging of the latch 33, in a horizontal slot 46 provided in the base 1.

Reference being resumed to the other figures, and particularly to'Fig. I, it will be seen that at its forward extremity arm 45 is provided with a generally arc-like horizontal portion 51, which is adapted to swing over and just to clear vertically the Off button 49 when this button occupies its depressed'position. The sector of travel of arm 45 and its portion 51 is arranged not to intersect the in-and-out travel path of the On button 48. The angular relation of the arm 45 to the shank 37 of latch 33 is such that the righthand extremity of the portion 51 may just contact with the edge of base 1 when the latch 33 occupies its normal gate-engaging position-i. e., that illustrated in Fig. 1; this provides a positive limitation against anymore rearward position of the latch. The length or" thehorizontal portion 51 is such that its left-hand extremity lies just to the right of the in-and-out travel path of the Off button 49, the latch still remaining in the men tioned normal position. This is the mandrel sup porting position of the latch portion of the right end supporting means, and while it is occupied by the latch the operation of the entire switch 4'! is obviously in no way interfered with, and the mandrel rotating means may therefore be adjusted at will to either operative or inoperative conditions. Assuming the Off button 49 to be depressed, adjustment of the latch to any other possible position will swing the arm 45 so that its portion 51 wi l cover the Off button, the limit to which the latch may be forwardly swung being appropriately fixed by either slot 36 or slot 46. Any such adjustment of the latch is to a position not positively appropriate to mandrel support; thereunder the continuance of a depressed'condition of'the Off button is enforced, the depression or" the On button 48 consequently prevented, and the mandrel rotating means thus enforcedly adjusted at will.

Off button 49 is depressed and the rotating means therefore adjusted to inoperative condition, the arm 45 may swing freely within its extreme limits and the latch 33 therefore may be However, after the On button 48 has been depressed and the Off button consequently.rais,edwhich as above shown can be done only if the latch is adjusted to its normal gate-engaging position--the adjustment of the latch to any other position is prevented by the impingement of the left-hand extremity of arm portion 51 upon the right-hand side of the Off button. Such a switch adjustment is an adjustment to operative condition of the mandrel rotating means; and thereunder the latch is enforcedly maintained in normal gate-engaging position, .or in other words the latch portion of the right end mandrel supporting means is locked in its mandrel supporting position. To relieve possible tendencies of the left-hand extremity of the arm portion 51 to cut the right-hand side of the Off button 49, I have shown a vertical lug 52 secured to the arm portion 51 at such lefhand extremity thereof and adapted to present a large impinging surface to the button.

The manner in which the illustrated anddescribed embodiment of my invention fulfills the objects of the invention above. set forth will be obvious. It isto be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to this particular embodiment, as modifications may be made without departure from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the

combination of means included in, and selectively adjustable to control the operation of, said rotating means; supporting meansselectively adjustable tosupport and to free the second extremity of said mandrel; and means connected with said supporting means and influencing said controlling means for restricting adjustment of said controlling means in accordance with the adjustment of said supporting means. 1

2. In a phonographic record resurfacing ma-- chine including. a record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means included in, and selectively adjustable to control the operation of, said rotating means; supporting means selectively adjustable to support andto free the second extremity of said mandrel; and means connected with said supporting means and influenced by said controlling means for restricting adjustment of said supporting means in accordance with the adjustment of said controlling means.

' 3. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means included in, and selectively adjustable to control the operation of, said rotating means; supporting means selectively adjustable to support and to free the second extremity of said mandrel; and means jointly associated with and mutually interlocking said controlling means and at least a portion of said supporting means for restricting adjustment of each of said two last mentioned means in accordance with the adjustment of the other.

4. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means for rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel and selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and other conditions; and means connected with said supporting means, and operative, whenever said supporting means is adjusted to at least certain of said other conditions, to render said rotating means inoperable.

5. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combinationof means for rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel and selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and othe conditions; and means connected with said supporting means, and operative, throughout operation of said rotating means, to lock said supporting means in a previously established mandrel supporting condition.

6. In a phonographic recordresurfacing machine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means for rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel and selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and other conditions; and means jointly associated with and mutually interlocking said supporting means and a control portion of said rotating means, operative whenever said supporting means is adjusted to at least certain of said other conditions to render said rotating means inoperable, the said interlocking means throughout operation of said rotating, means, locking said supporting means in a previously established mandrel supporting position.

'7. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means for rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said means comprising portions selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and other positions; and means connected with one of said portions of said supporting means for rendering said rotating means inoperable whenever said supporting means portion occupies any of its said other positions.

. 8. In a phonographic record resurfacing ma chine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a. first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of meansfor rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said means comprising portions selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and other positions; and means connected with one of said portions of said supporting means for locking said supportingmeans' portion. in its mandrel supporting position throughout operation of said ro-v tating means. i

9. In a phonographic record resurfacingmachine including a rotatable record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a, record borne by said mandrel; the combination of means for rotating said mandrel; mandrel supporting means associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said supporting means comprising portions selectively adjustable to mandrel supporting and other positions; and means jointly associated with and mutually interlocking one of said portions of said supporting means and a control portion of said rotating means, for both rendering said rotating means inoperable whenever said supporting means portion occupies one of its said other positions and for locking said supporting means portion in its mandrel supporting position throughout operation of said rotating means.

10. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means included in,and selectively adjustable to control the operation of,said rotating means; a pivoted gate associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said gate carrying a mandrel supporting device and being selectively positionable to engage and disengage said supporting device with and from said mandrel; means selectively adjustable to secure and release said gate in and from a position engaging said device with said mandrel; and means connected with said securing means and influencing said controlling means for restricting adjustment of said controlling means in accordance with the adjustment of said securing means.

11. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a record-bearing mandrel, a mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of means included in, and selectively adjustable to control the operation of, said rotating means; a pivoted gate associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said gate carrying a mandrel supporting device and being selectively positionable to engage and disengage said supporting device with and from said mandrel; means selectively adjustable to secure and release said gate in and from a position engaging said device with said mandrel; and means connected with said securing means and influenced by said controlling means for restricting adjustment of said securing means in accordance with the combination of means included in, and selectively adjustable to control the operation of, said rotating means; a pivoted gate associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said gate carrying a mandrel supporting device and being selectively positionable to engage and disengage said device with and from said mandrel; means selectively adjustable to secure and release said gate in and from a position engaging said device with said mandrel; and means jointly associated with and mutually interlocking said controlling means and said securing means for restricting adjustment or" each in accordance with the adjustment of the other. v 13. In a phonographic record resurfacing machine including a record-bearing mandrel, a

mandrel support associated with a first extremity of said mandrel, an electric motor rotatively linked to said mandrel to rotate the same, and resurfacing means adapted to traverse the surface of a record borne by said mandrel: the combination of an electric circuit serially including said motor and a switch, said switch having portions selectively movable to open and close said circuit; a pivoted gate associated with the second extremity of said mandrel, said gate carrying a mandrel supporting device and being selectively positionable to engage and disengage said device with and from said mandrel; a pivoted latch selectively positionable to secure andrelease said gate in and from a position engaging said device with said mandrel; and an arm secured to and pivoting with said latch and extending into the path of movement of one of said switch portions, whereby movement of said switch portion is restricted in accordance with the position of said latch and movement of said latch is restricted in accordance with the position of said switch portion.

LOUIS Z. LA FOREST. 

